There were definitely some charms to spending the holidays at Kitezh.
To begin with, there were no queues in the cafeteria. It was always believed that all students were equal, but in truth, the upperclassmen always received the very best treats.
And then there was the tranquil silence. No one was making a racket, so I could gather my thoughts in peace. I just wished Alexey were here. I'd grown accustomed to chatting with him during breakfast each morning. But oh well...
I looked around. Only a handful of tables were occupied. There were about ten of us remaining in Kitezh in total. A girl in glasses nodded in my direction, and I waved back, though I had no idea who she was. I think I'd seen her once in Konstantin's company.
"Effendi, I've found it."
I looked at Ibrahim in confusion.
"A secret hideout," he reminded me. "A place that's dry, warm, and free of any strange smells. Just as you asked."
With that news, all remnants of sleep seemed to vanish in an instant, and the gray morning outside the window suddenly no longer felt so gloomy.
"Well done, Ibrahim."
What did he find? A stable? Dorian muttered gloomily. And how does he know it doesn't smell?
"You're grumpy today. At least give him a chance."
Whatever.
"Will you show me after breakfast?" I asked the Turk. "We can go to Tenedom a little later."
"Of course, effendi," Ibrahim replied with a respectful nod. "But you'll need a lantern to see."
Not the stables then.
The hideout was located in a building that had long ago served as quarters for the Steel Classes. Only ruins remained of it now, yet no one had bothered to demolish the remnants. Perhaps it'd been done out of caution since the structure stood near the school's boiler room.
Even in the present day, it was easy to see that the main pursuits of the Steel Class involved crafting enchanted mechanisms and artifacts.
Everything about the quarters appeared strange and intricate.
Swirling patterns and rivets were present on all surfaces. Some windows still retained shutters, each one different from the other, unique in their own design.
The students generally avoided wandering here, for rumors abounded that the building was riddled with clever mechanical traps.
Injuries were a high possibility, and no one was too keen to visit the infirmary.
With a small pocket lantern illuminating our path, I tiptoed behind Ibrahim.
"The basement, I presume?"
"Yes, effendi," Ibrahim confirmed.
One, two, three, four flights of stairs brought us to a formidable metal door, reinforced with countless rivets.
"This looks like a prison," I said, eyeing the door. "Don't tell me this is where they put the naughty students back in the day..."
"It's not a prison, effendi," the Turk replied with a hint of a smile, pointing to a plastic disk embedded in the wall, dotted with holes arranged in a circle, with numbers from zero to nine visible inside.
"The combination is nine-zero-two."
I nodded and pressed the indicated numbers, but nothing happened.
"That's not how it works, effendi." Ibrahim chuckled softly, a hint of amusement in his voice. "You have to insert your finger into the hole and turn the disk to the right."
Following his advice, I did as instructed.
The disk spun smoothly and sank back into place with a satisfying click. A clever little trick, indeed!
A children's puzzle, Dorian muttered, scowling. Couldn't they have just installed a normal lock instead?
"Don't be a stick in the mud. It's fun!"
I repeated the process with the other two digits. The door shuddered, then swung open silently. So many years had gone by, yet it didn't even squeak. Now that was some impressive craftsmanship!
A cool breeze brushed my face, though it wasn't cold at all.
"Іbrahim?"
"Yes, effendi?" he responded promptly.
"How did you manage to figure out the code for this spinning contraption?"
"It's written over there, behind your back," he replied with a modest smile.
Already inside, I turned and raised my flashlight toward the door. A yellowed piece of paper was taped to its inner side, the faded words reading: "March: 902."
"Well done," I said. "I never doubted that your mind is still as sharp as your blade once was."
"Thank you, effendi," he replied humbly.
From the outside, one might imagine a vast underground vault behind that door, a chamber large enough to fit several football fields, but the reality was much more modest.
A narrow corridor led to just four rooms. It took me about fifteen minutes to inspect each one. There was nothing of interest inside. All of them were empty, silent, and unremarkable.
Then again, why was I surprised? It's not like they knew someone would set up base here in a couple of years. It only made sense that they took everything valuable and left behind heaps of all sorts of rubbish. There were plenty of shelves and cabinets, chairs, and some other furniture as well that we could make use of.
This place had the potential to be a top-tier secret hideout! Ibrahim truly was a genius! Admittedly, there were a few strange odors lingering, but overall, fresh air seemed to be flowing in from somewhere. The most important thing was that the ventilation system was functioning. We'd figure out the rest later.
"Dorian, what do you think?"
I've seen nicer sewers.
"You're such a party pooper." I shined my flashlight toward the ghost. "I love it, Ibrahim. The place's fantastic. There's a place for a storage, an alchemy lab, and even a common room..."
You can't be serious. What are we? The Sanitation Guild?
I waved him off, then turned my flashlight onto the ghost again.
"Thank you, Ibrahim. Consider your first task as my assistant completed. Now we can set out for Tenedom."
"If you insist, effendi..."
"There's plenty to do, if you remember. Why do you look so gloomy?"
"I'm not keen on being chewed like bubblegum..."
"Bormotun won't bother you anymore. I've forbidden him from doing that, so don't worry. Besides, he keeps spitting you back out, doesn't he?"
*** The lessons proved utterly fascinating. First came the magic of summoning, rooted in my knowledge of raising the undead. I learned to conjure a skeleton swordsman and a skeleton archer using only a few of their bones from two small bags that, as it turned out, Dorian had stored in abundance in Tenedom. It was a shame I could only summon one at a time, but even that felt incredible. The next step would be summoning them with even fewer remains, and eventually summoning them without any physical components at all.
They turned out to be surprisingly formidable allies. We had plenty of practice; for instance, when I commanded a skeleton to attack one of the trees surrounding the house, it would hack away until only a stump remained, or until it collapsed into a heap of bones. Each could last around ten minutes before "dying." The only downside was that afterward, I had to search for and gather their bones.
Later, after I had eaten and rested, Dorian solemnly announced that I was finally ready, though I didn't quite understand what that meant, and taught me my first long-range spell — Dark Arrow. It resembled a black lightning bolt, a crackling discharge of shadow and power. Unfortunately, there were no suitable living targets in Tenedom to test it on. But the summoned skeleton was shredded to pieces by the spell.
That's all for today. You've done well, Dorian said with a touch of pride in his voice.
"Hold on a moment. When Ibrahim gave me the Glove of Weakness that drains life energy, you said it was useless and that you would teach me something similar."
Patience, Max, Dorian replied gently. I need to regain more of my own strength. It won't take long, I promise. With your new ability...
"My new ability?"
Didn't you notice? When you slay ordinary monsters, you and I both absorb their energy. Though, admittedly, it's not as dramatic or impressive as with those creatures carrying the Curses.
"The Ant did tickle a bit," I admitted. "I thought it was just my back itching... Good to know for the future."
"Bormot?"
A puff of gray fur materialized before me.
"Effendi, a dangerous monster has appeared!" Ibrahim reported with tense urgency, approaching me closely.
I patted Bormotun on the head and offered him a few marshmallows I'd prepared specifically for this moment.
"Don't worry, Ibrahim. Soon, we'll be fighting real monsters. That'll be like a therapy session for you."
I wouldn't take him along if I were you.
"And why's that?"
There's a real risk you might never see him again.
"What do you mean?"
Chances are he'll pop out of that crystal and vanish into thin air.
Every demon has its own unique world, and no one knows what rules or laws govern it.
"But nothing happened to him in Tenedom, right?"
I would have warned you if there'd been any danger of losing your assistant. We've already brought a ghost here before. Lacrimosa needed it when she was experimenting with her potion.
"The one that allows her to see ghosts?"
Yeah, that's the one. Her ghost lived here for three months before she dismissed him. Funny though...
"What is?"
Bormotun never touched him. Maybe your Ibrahim piqued his interest.
"Bormot?" the beast inquired, sensing that his name was being spoken.
I didn't want to lose Ibrahim. I had big plans for him. After discovering that I could carry him in a magical crystal, I'd started formulating a plan to smuggle the Turk into a Distortion. But Dorian's warning now had me worried that it might not work out. On the other hand, his words were about demonic dimensions, and Distortions were probably something different, so maybe we'd still try it.
Before departing, I warned Bormotun not to eat Ibrahim and asked Lacrimosa to speak with the ghost. Maybe something interesting could come out of their cooperation. The witch promised she would. I really should buy her some dresses; the ones she wore were all quite short. How she managed to go foraging in such clothes and not catch a cold was beyond me.
Hornborn patted my shoulder in goodbye and assured me that everything would be fine.
The familiar blue square materialized before me, and I began sketching out the intricate pattern I had committed to memory. At that instant, a bead of sweat traced a path down my spine.
The first attempt was a failure. I must have drawn the sigil wrong.
Damn it all.
What are you squirming for, Max? Calm down. This isn't a test.
No one's grading you, Dorian reassured me. Just try again.
His words eased my nerves, and on the second try, everything around me started to whirl and spin...
Boom!
Suddenly, we found ourselves right in the heart of a vast, sprawling hall. Its towering walls vanished into the darkness above. It almost seemed as if they stretched into infinity, though such a thing should have, by all accounts, been impossible.
Approximately fifty steps away from us stood... a throne? Or perhaps an ornate chair? In any case, it was a massive, imposing structure perched atop a large lizard rapidly crawling toward me.
Don't even think about running, Max. Stay where you are, Dorian advised. This isn't Bubnov and his gang.
"Yeah, no kidding. Though, it has Bubnov's beady eyes..."
The lizard's movements were unnatural and abrupt, resembling jerks or spasms, as if it were covering several dozen steps with each sudden motion. In just a few moments, it was standing directly in front of me.
Seated on the throne was a creature that resembled a human, yet with striking differences. Bright green skin, four arms, and three eyes instead of two. The third eye was positioned right in the center of its forehead. Long, flowing hair cascaded down its shoulders, framing a face with delicate features and a mischievous smile. I could gauge neither its age nor gender with a hundred percent accuracy, but I was leaning toward it being a young male.
Girls had breasts, but this thing had none. More precisely, he had nothing where his chest should've been. Not even nipples. Instead, his torso was adorned with hundreds of golden chains, all encrusted with countless precious stones. It was quite the sight.
"So you're the hero Barbadey promised to send to me?" he asked, voice smooth and curious.
"Yeah." I nodded. "In a way."
"I had a different image of you," he said with a sly smile. "I thought you'd have hooves. You know, those guys... What are they called? The ones... They're always kicking and bucking for no reason..."
"Centaurs?"
"Yes!"
"No, I'm not one of them," I replied, shaking my head.
"I see," he said softly, a hint of amusement in his voice. "Honestly, it's even better this way."
"Yes?"
"You bear a resemblance to the inhabitants of this place. Only, you're as thin as a twig," he smiled slyly. "My name is Vagasso. I am the master of these lands. Long ago, Barbadey bestowed this realm upon me, and ever since, I have ruled over it. Tell me, hero, what is your name?"
"Maxim Temnikov."
"And what position do you hold back home? I hope it's a rather lofty one?"
"Very lofty," I confirmed.
"I had no doubt." Vagasso chuckled. "Barbadey wouldn't send just anyone to me. I only bestow my gifts upon the most worthy."
"Thank you," I said, casting a cautious glance at the lizard, which had opened its jagged maw, revealing sharp teeth.
I instinctively took a few steps back, wary of its ferocity.
"But remember, my gift must be earned, Maxim Temnikov. Such was the agreement with Barbadey. I claim land and subjects, and in return, I am prepared to bestow a blessing upon the hero who dares approach me.
But, in exchange, I ask for a favor."
"Dorian! You never mentioned any favors!" I exclaimed. "You said the demon would gift me a rare treasure!"
I didn't know! he admitted. Let's hear him out. Perhaps it's something small...
"I am Vagasso!" the demon suddenly declared, voice resonant and commanding. "I know all that has been! I know all that will be! I see everything that is hidden! Nothing can be concealed from me, for my name is Vagasso!"
"Okay...?" I murmured, studying him carefully.
"What did you say, hero?"
"Nothing... I was just admiring your speech..."
At that moment, Vagasso and the lizard seemed to swell in size, nearly doubling in stature.
"Speak at once! Do you dare to question my words?!"
"If you are so smart, why didn't you know what I would look like?"
I asked.
The demon fixed a piercing gaze upon me, a faint smile curling his lips, and then he gradually diminished in size once more.
"Barbadey's affairs are beyond my reach," he replied casually.
"Heroes — those are his personal matter. Only he knows who will appear and for what reason."
"Ah, I understand. Please, go on."
"I was speaking of something entirely different," the demon clarified. "I receive all sorts of gifts and offerings for my gift of clairvoyance. But there's a small snag..."
Vagasso affectionately stroked the lizard's nose, which closed its eyes in pure pleasure.
"I have a special ring for that purpose," he explained. "Barbadey gifted it to me along with this blessing. I took it to a jeweler to have a few gemstones set into it... I wanted it to shine even brighter, you see. When I step out among my subjects, I want them to look at me in awe. The ring was just a few stones short of perfection."
The demon cast a wistful look at his hands, and I noticed that only one finger was without a ring. On every other, he wore several glittering bands.
"I simply cannot be without that ring," he said softly. "My gift is bound to it, and I cannot venture without it. What if something happens to me on the way? Who would I leave my subjects to? They're already beginning to whisper that I've abandoned them. Look! The temple's full of gifts, and yet I remain unable to help them."
"This is deceptively simple. If he's unable to go himself and is sending us instead, that must mean things aren't so straightforward, right?"
Perhaps he's just lazy. Who can say?
"Yeah, lazy, sure..."
"And where's this jeweler?"
"In the neighboring city."
"Is the road very dangerous?" I inquired of the demon, who was carefully scrutinizing the chains draped across his belly.
"Not at all. It's a short forested path."
"What kind of trouble could possibly befall you then?"
"Me? Oh, none. I'm worried about my subjects. Pilgrims come and go from the city, and they often get robbed by those green-skinned bandits.
Sometimes they even eat them. You might as well give those ruffians a good scare while you're at it. Do two good deeds in one go. Two birds in the hand are better than none in the bush... Or however the saying goes."
Not like that, that was for sure. Still, he had a point.
"I respect the hustle, I have to say."
Don't even think about refusing him. Demons don't know how to take "no" for an answer.
"I wasn't about to."
"I'd go myself, of course," the demon said, running his hands over his chest and adjusting the heavy golden chains. "It's always a pleasure when everyone's falling to their knees before you. But for that, I'd have to peer into the future to see whether I'd return with the ring or not. And I forgot to do that before I gave the ring away. I was too occupied chatting with my subjects and accepting their gifts..."
Has the brain of a magpie, this one.
"They're all the same, aren't they? Hoarding gold and trinkets..."
"So, what have you decided, Maxim Temnikov?" the demon inquired with a sly smile.
"I'll gladly lend a hand. How could I possibly leave you stranded in such a dire predicament?"
"I thought as much. I knew you'd be a genuine hero," Vagasso chuckled, gently stroking the lizard. "By the way, I've got another little matter to attend to. One can never do too many heroic deeds, am I right?"
He must be related to Lacrimosa, Dorian lamented. Always something with her, too...
"Maybe we should start small? Baby steps and all. I ought to prove myself to you first."
Vagasso's expression darkened into a threatening scowl. Just as I thought he was about to swell in size once more, the demon suddenly waved his hand and burst into hearty laughter that caused the very ground beneath my feet to tremble.
"Baby steps... Did you hear that, Kucha-Ucha?" He turned to his lizard. "Our hero has a sense of humor. It's been ages since I've had such a good laugh. Well then, very well. I won't punish you for your boldness."
"Thank you, O wise Vagasso," I said cautiously.
"Now, allow me to escort you to the exit. It seems you're eager to set out on your journey," the demon said, gesturing with both hands before leading me through the grand halls of his temple.
The vast chamber gave way to a smaller one, then another, until at last we found ourselves in a remarkably long corridor, its entire surface lavishly gilded. However, just before reaching the end, about halfway along, a barely perceptible side passage veered off, and we turned into it.
Vagasso, with a smug expression, occasionally cast glances my way, probably eager to gauge the impression his opulent dwelling was making on me.
"Dorian?"
Yes?
"Do you think the energy sword functions properly in this world?"
I hope so. Why would it work any differently here?
"One can never know..."
I'm sure we'll find out soon enough.
By mowing down a few green-skinned bandits. Nothing out of the ordinary...